"In the old days, in blizzardly weather, we used to tie a string from house to barn so as to make it from shelter to responsibility and back again... I think we had better rig up such a line between past and present."
WALLACE STEGNER, HISTORY, MYTH, AND THE WESTERN WRITER
Organizational Development and Effectiveness
• Fundraising Assistance, including customized fundraising training
• Strategic and Business Planning
• Fiscal Sustainability and Budget Forecasting
• Campaign Leadership
• Event Planning and Meeting Facilitation
• Board Development and Organizational Staffing
Philanthropic Guidance and Leadership (for individuals and foundations)
• Defining Philanthropic Goals and Priorities
• Evaluation of grantee performance
• Fiscal Sustainability and Budget Forecasting
• Long-Term Planning
• Assessment of Appropriate Funding Vehicles
• Providing donor advised funding and grantmaking assistance
Programmatic Assessments and Evaluation
• Strategic Vision for Fish and Aquatic Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2013). Project leader & report author.
• Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, FY 2007-2009 (2010). Project leader & report author.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fisheries Program, FY 2005-2009 (2010). Project leader & report author.
• Independent Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System (2008). Senior evaluator and report co-author.
Stewardship Audits
The Stewardship Audit is an iterative exercise capturing the ecological and cultural history of the target property, enabling its owners and managers to better appreciate the outstanding attributes of the property, and providing a baseline and ongoing blueprint for sustainable and responsible long-term management and stewardship of the property. The audit addresses six principles and associated criteria addressing legal issues, indigenous rights, community relations, environmental impacts, and other conduct on and around the subject property. These principles and criteria are grounded in Principles and Criteria for Forest Stewardship developed by the Forest Stewardship Council. In identifying actions and improvements, the Stewardship Audit seeks to develop a property management goal that:
• Represents good business practices that can be sustained indefinitely at an operational level;
• Maintains the quality of its landscape while minimizing the adverse effects that it causes;
• Operates in a responsible manner, in conformity with local, national and international laws and regulations; and
• Is socially and economically responsible to the local community and broader society.
Natural Resource Policy & Conservation Initiatives
• National Fish Habitat Action Plan (2006). Primary Author and consultant to the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for development of initial plan.
• Partnership Agenda for Fisheries Conservation: A special report by the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (2002). Committee member and report co-author.
• Saving a System in Peril: A Special Report on the National Fish Hatchery System (2000). Committee member and report co-author.
Strategic Planning & Project Management
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Conservation Partnerships - A Field Guide to Public-Private Partnering for Natural Resource Conservation (click to view)
• Marine Mammal Commission: Future Directions in Marine Mammal Research, Marine Mammal Commission, 2003. Member of Steering Committee and project administrator (click to view)
• Sonoran Institute, strategic visioning
• Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, strategic planning
• Whirling Disease Foundation, strategic planning
Energy Efficiency
Conservation Benchmarks, LLC provides energy efficiency services for business, homeowners, and government agencies. Our services include building energy audits, commissioning and recommissioning, project management, and performance contract review. We approach every project with the goal of identifying energy efficient solutions that will provide the best value and financial returns for our customers. We understand that energy efficiency is important for business image, and that each project must be financially favorable for the bottom line.
The best way to improve a building’s energy efficiency is to have a recommissioning study performed. Recommissioning is the process of fine-tuning a building’s heating ventilation and air conditioning systems and controls to return to and improve upon the building’s original design intent. Recommissioning projects are relatively low in cost and can often provide a return on the investment within two years or less.